John g



(No Model.)

J. G. SKINNER.

10E GREEPER.

No. 362,188. Patented May 3,1887.

Inventor 3y N: Farina Plmm.

llhognphnr. Washingtcn, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. SKINNER, OF OSWEGO, NINV YORK.

ICE-CREEPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,188, dated May 3, 1887.

Application filed February 523, 1887. Serial No. 228,5l6.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN G. SKINNER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Oswego, in the county of Oswego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Creepers, of which the following-is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to ice'creepers 0f the class described in Letters Patent No. 340,378, granted to me April 20, 1886; and it consists in certain novel features of construction, which will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then clearly pointed out in the claim.

Figure l of the drawings is a part1 y-sectional side elevation ofan overshoe with my improved ice-creeper attached, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same viewed from the under side. Fig. 3 shows a blank from which the fasteningplate and spring are formed. Fig. 4 is a plan of the heel-plate viewed from the under side.

In the drawings, A represents the heel-plate, formed of any suitable metal, from the bottom of which project spurs a. The forward end of this plate is bent upward, as shown in the drawings, and on each side thereof is formed ajournal, j, all substantially the same as shown and described in my patent above mentioned.

B represents the fastening-plate, and O the spring. As shown in Fig. 3, these parts are constructed from a single blank of any suitable metal. The narrow side strips, b, of the fastening-plate are bent upward,and their ends are bent into ring shape to form bearings b for the journals of the heel-plate. The middle portion, 0, of the blank which forms the spring is simply bent upward to rest under the shank of the shoe, as shown.

The heel-plate is attached to the fastening plate by placing the journals of the former in the bearings on the latter, and when the parts are thus connected the creeper is attached to (No model.)

an overshoe by rivets; but it is to be understood that the device is equally adapted to use on boots or shoes, to which it may be attached by screws. 7 I

By referring to Fig. lit will be seen that the jonrnaled end of the heelplate rests under the spring, which serves to force the plate, when in operative position, firmly against the heel of the shoe; and it will also be seen that the heel-plate is journaled to the fastening-plate in such position that the former may be thrown forward under the shank of the shoe, as seen in dotted lines, and be held in that position by the spring.

It will be observed that I have dispensed with the clumsy and cumbersome cars which served as the bearings for the journals of the heel-plate in my aforesaid patented creeper, and also that the spring is not doubled back over the fastening-plate, as in that device.

By my present invention I have produced an ice-creeper very compact in form, and one which fits the shoe more neatly, is simpler in construction, and can be manufactured much cheaper than the one formerly patented to me.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In an ice-creeper, a fasteningplate the central portion of which is formed into an upwardly-bent and forwardly-extending spring and the side portions into narrow side strips, the ends of which are formed into tubular bearings, in combination with a spurred heel-plate, one end of which is journaled in said bearings and rests under the spring, substantial] y as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. SKINNER.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. RHonEs, H. LITTLEFIELD. 

